Drunk Driving Moms: Epidemic or Hype?

There have been a lot of sad stories in the news recently of moms driving drunk with children in the car, usually with tragic consequences. While women DUI arrests are certainly on the rise, men still outpace women 4 to 1.

So we want to know is this really a sign of a growing epidemic or just increased attention on a problem that existed long ago?

Voice your opinion by voting in our poll on Facebook.

Three Young Lives Cut Abruptly Short in Illinois, in a Crash Caused by an Accused Repeat Drunk Driver

Amanda Jahn, 27, and her children Ryan, 3, and Kaitlyn, 11 months were laid to rest Tuesday, following a crash caused by a suspected repeat drunk driver. The accused offender was charged with four counts of aggravated driving under the influence and ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail. Read the complete story from the Chicago Tribune.

Beginning in January 2009, alcohol ignition interlocks will be mandatory for all convicted drunk drivers in the state of Illinois, one of only eight states that require or highly incentivize interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders.

Help us reduce the number of drunk driving fatalities where you live – and nationwide. Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

After Surviving a Severe Crash Caused by a Repeat DUI Offender, a California Law Enforcement Family Fights to Prevent Future Victims of Drunk Driving

When Jennifer Robi was 12 and a half, she and her family never imagined she would be addressing student audiences about drunk driving and underage drinking 18 months later. But when a drunk driver with three prior DUI convictions severely injured Jennifer and her mother, Kath, on April 27, 2007, the family’s lives changed forever. In the past three months Jennifer has talked to 800 students about drunk driving, using a presentation she created. She’s also been asked to speak to first-time offenders and college criminal justice students.

Read Jennifer's inspirational story of courage and survival in the wake of devastating injuries from a drunk driving crash.

MADD Launches Drunk Driving Victim/Survivor Chat Support Group in Spanish

Serving victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes is at the heart of everything MADD does. MADD gives you a voice and a place where your loved ones will be honored. You can connect to, share stories with or ask questions of victims/survivors of drunk driving crashes nationwide in MADD’s password-protected forum.

Join the moderated MADD Victim Survivor Chat Support Group.

• Mondays – 7:00 p.m. CT
• Thursdays – 8:30 p.m. CT
• Spanish – Wednesdays – 8:30 p.m. CT - beginning Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Florida Mother Receives 9-Year Sentence for DUI Crash That Killed Son

Six months after her son's death, Angela Harper was sentenced to spend nine years in prison for DUI manslaughter in the crash that killed the 13-year-old boy. Read the complete story from WJXT in Jacksonville.

Every child deserves a designated driver. Read MADD’s child endangerment report.